Heat pump water heaters

What is a heat pump water heater?

A heat pump water heater is a cost effective and energy-efficient way to heat water. It uses electricity to move heat from the air into the hot water tank. Some appliances in your house might already use heat pumps, such as fridges and split-system air conditioners.

How will it make a difference?

Easy operation
Your heat pump is set up to run on the recommended settings. There’s no regular maintenance you need to do yourself.

Smart heating 
Your heat pump has been programmed to operate 20 hours a day. It will not reheat water between 5pm and 9pm, when electricity can cost more.

Less energy use
Heat pumps use less energy, about 30% of the energy that an electric hot water system uses, which can help to reduce your electricity bills.

Safe water temperatures
Your heat pump water heater is set up to deliver safe water temperatures. This means that hot water from your taps cannot be more than 50°C to help prevent burns.

Humming sound
Heat pump water heaters make a soft humming sound when running. This is normal and sounds similar to a fridge or air conditioner.

Other features of your heat pump water heater

The heat pump may use a boosting element to heat water more quickly
in very cold temperatures. It may take longer to reheat water than your older system, especially if you use all the hot water stored in your tank at once. You might notice a small amount of condensation (water) dripping from the drain outlet.

How to make the most out of your heat pump water heater

You shouldn’t experience much difference between your old and new hot water system, but here are some tips to make it work smoothly:

Try to have short showers, and leave time between showering
If a lot of hot water is used up at once, such as everyone in the household showering one after the other, you may run out of hot water. The heat pump will take a few hours to reheat water.

Keep the area around the heat pump clear
Your heat pump works best when it has good airflow around it, so make sure the area around the unit is clear and avoid storing items on or against it.

Do not adjust any of the heat pump controls
If you’re going away for an extended period of time (such as a month or more), you can turn the heat pump off at the control panel. You will need to wait several hours for the water to reheat once you turn the heat pump back on.

Troubleshooting tips

It’s normal for your heat pump to:

• Make noise or hum while running (like an air-conditioner)
• Drip or create condensation
• Have flashing lights
• Take a few hours to reheat water
• Not reheat water between 5pm and 9pm

How to: save money on your electricity bill

• Check that your shower head is water efficient. If the amount of water collected in a bucket is more than 9 litres in one minute, call the Maintenance Hub to request a water-efficient shower head.
• Call your retailer and ask: “Am I on the best energy plan you can offer me?” They are legally required to tell you if they have a cheaper plan available for your household.
• If your electricity bill has a controlled load tariff charge, ask your retailer to remove controlled load charges from your bill. If they ask you to arrange for an electrician to disconnect your controlled load, advise your retailer that your heat pump was disconnected from the controlled load circuit when it was installed.
• Visit www.energymadeeasy.gov.au to compare energy retailers and make sure you’re on the best plan to save you money. It takes about 10 minutes to check and you’ll need your last bill to find your NMI
  (a unique number on the first page) and compare tariffs and charges.